We were saddened this week to hear of the death of long-time member Arthur Johnson. Art was a former board member, a stalwart of our writing workshops, and an active participant in our scholarship and conference committees.

Board member Martha Miller recounts that Art moved to Portland from Anchorage in the late ‘90s after attending a writing workshop at Colonyhouse. Impressed by the property, the friendliness of the group, and the high caliber of the workshop, he decided to make his home in Portland to be closer to all that Portland has to offer writers. Frequent workshop presenter Larry Brooks has written a fine remembrance of Art at his website Storyfix.com.

Art’s family and friends are helping create a fund in Art’s name, which will benefit low income writers and youth groups visiting the Colonyhouse. In lieu of flowers, the family invites those wishing to make a donation in Art’s remembrance to do the same.